Improvement in friction-matches



W. T. MERSEREAU. Friction-Match.

No. 220,722. Patented Oct. 21, 1879.4

F/6.3. F/GJ.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

MPETEHS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER WASNKNGTQN. D C.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T. MERSEREAU, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRICTION-MATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,722, dated October 21, 1879 application filed April 10, 1879.

To all whom it may coricern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. MERSE- REAU, of Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented, made, and applied to use Improvements in. the Construction of Friction Matches, and that the following is a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fignre 1 is a view of my improvement in friction-matches, showing the metal protector in positionupon the forward or top end of the match provided with the fulminate. Fig. 2 is a view of the same, the metal protector being withdrawn from position upon the match and the match ignited. Fig. 3 is a view of the metal protector as made prior to being placed upon the match. Fig. 4 is a view of the same, the projecting portion being turned down.

In the drawings like parts of the invention are indicated by the same letters of reference.

The nature of the presentinvention consists in an improvement in the manufacture of friction-matches in which a metallic protector for the forward or fulminate end of a match is placed over said fulminate end, and the igni; tion of the match is prevented, save by the withdrawal from the match of this metallic protector; the object of the invention being the removal of all danger arising from the use of lucifer-matches, by which insurance rates are decreased, the matches are protected from dampness, rats or'mice cannot ignite them, walls or furniture are not defaced, and the matches protected cannot ignite when carried in the pocket or trodden upon.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the con; struction and operation of the same.

A shows a match made in the ordinary way,

and B is the metallic.protector employed by me in connection with the match A. This protector is stamped up in dies, is made tubular in shape, the lower portion of it being slotted, so as to form, as it were, wings; and thus the ability of the metal to spring is increased, and the protector is more easily adapted to differentsized matches than if not slotted. A portion of the protector, at the top, is left turned up, as at b, and, after the protector has been placed over the match, is turned down, protecting the head of the same.

Such being the construction and application of the protector B, the operation may be thus set forth: To ignite the match A, the protector B is drawn off and away from the same, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and as this operation of drawingthe protector of and away from the match is performed the fulminate or igniting-head of the match, from contact with the interior of the protector, will be ignited.

The results stated as effected by the use of the protector are, namely, absolute safety in the use of friction-matches, lessening of insurance, protection of the matches from dampness, non-liability of ignition by rats or mice, and non-ignition from being carried in the pocket, and rendering the invention valuable and important.

In some instances, perhaps, the igniting fulminate may be placed upon the interior of the protector, and as the same is drawn over the splint the splint may be thus ignited; but in the majority of cases the protector will be employed with the match as usually made.

Having now set forth my invention, what I claim as new is-- The combination, with a match, A, ofa metallic protector, B, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

WM. T. MERSEREAU.

In presence of- HORACE HARRIS, Units. 0. KANOUSE. 

